CHENNAI: The Madras high court denied bail on Thursday to a biker and popular vlogger arrested a fortnight ago on charges of rash and negligent driving in Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh, saying he needs to be taught "a lesson" by being made to spend more time in custody. Referring to a bike stunt allegedly attempted by T T F Vasan on September 17 on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway, Justice C V Karthikeyan said the act posed a threat to the safety of others. "Fortunately, the biker alone suffered an injury."
Vasan has eight previous cases against his name in Cuddalore and Soolur in Tamil Nadu, and Manali in Himachal. He has been charged with offences punishable under Section 308 (attempted culpable homicide), 279 (rash driving), and 337 (causing hurt with an act endangering public safety) of the Indian Penal Code. He was arrested and remanded in judicial custody on September 19.
When the biker's counsel cited medical reasons for seeking bail for Vasan, the judge said he should be treated in the hospital inside the central prison at Puzhal. The judge ordered the prison doctors to treat the injury on his hand and suggested that his YouTube channel be closed.
Government advocate Krishna Kumar said Vasan had over 45 lakh followers on social media and was known to perform allegedly dangerous bike stunts in public. "His followers, mostly youngsters, get influenced by his acts and end up driving rashly on roads, posing a threat to the public." A trial court had previously denied bail to Vasan.